Paul Merson states his prediction for Southampton v Man United

United will face Ajax in the final on May 24, three days after the final Premier League game of the season at home to Crystal Palace, who may still be fighting for survival. I'm happy. They played 90 minutes, no injuries. I don't think the board feels like that.

"I think Jose concluded a month ago that he wasn't going to get top four", McAteer said on LFC TV after Liverpool thrashed West Ham 4-0 at the London Stadium. Because we work very hard.

"In my personal analysis, I don't think that way". But if I was in your chair, maybe. We won the Community Shield.

With two games remaining in the Premier League, Southampton are aiming to finish eighth and Puel hopes to build for next season by taking six points against United and Stoke. [Daley] Blind will not play against Southampton, [Marouane] Fellaini will because he's not played the last three [league] matches [due to suspension].

"The best thing about it is that you've earned it".

Wayne Rooney halved the deficit with the last goal at the Lane and Mourinho insisted afterwards that he did not prioritise the competition, again criticised United's fixture schedule and said a top-four finish was less important to his team than silverware.

Asked what had made it such a tough season, he replied: "The players and the club".

"And I repeat the same - thank you Michael Oliver, because we were out in the FA Cup". I don't know what is important for them. I know what I had to do.

Puel's future at St Mary's is uncertain despite reaching the EFL Cup final in February and leading one of the league's youngest sides to a potential top-eight finish.

The Portuguese, who confirmed that midfielder Paul Pogba will miss Wednesday's game following the death of his father, said he was struggling to grant his players time off to recover between matches. "They're two fantastic goalkeepers".

"And one last match to play because in this moment the Premier League, for us, is just matches we don't want to play".

"Because it's a position where you have always a little bit of rivalry, especially if you are both the same kind of level".